Pro Tools?

So, I've been looking into getting some new software for recording and stuff, and I've been looking at pro tools, but I don't know what kind to get. On their site it says there is the M-powered, LE, and HD. Can someone tell me what the difference between these three are, and which would be the most practical to use?

it really depends on your budget. just right off the bat i can tell you that getting the hd would be completly impractical. in order to really get the best out of it, youd need to purchase a really good digidesign interface which would end up costing you somewhere between 1400-2000 dollars. with any other interface, you just arent going to get enough track space or driver memory. if your on a rather small budget and you dont really record complicated music, the m powered is probably for you. i use the le, just because my music is a little more complicated but even though there isnt a massive amount of track space on my interface, i can still compensate with the preroll technique. if you want more info on this, just pm me..its a little too complicated to explain on a thread..

FYI you don't need high end sequencers to get great audio. Sonar is reasonably priced and works with most interfaces, (unlike ProTools which needs its own hardware....)

What sequencer are you currently running?

ProTools is a great piece of software and has good features, however you need to pay a little more for it in the end. Cakewalk Sonar Studio or Producer are both great higher end products which have synths and just about everything you need to create your music.

Download the trials of Sonar and see how you like it. There are no ProTools demos as you need the hardware...

What signal flow and power are you referring to that the other sequencers have that make them more desirable than Cubase in those regards?

CT

I didn't use Cubase consistently enough to try to customize anything. I just remember loving the edit window.

For the signal flow I was referring just to the layout and ease of the signal routing. I'm currently in love with Reason because its very visual, and that works for me. The sequencer window in reason is not great though.

I get why you asked though, because it might have sounded like I was dissing Cubase. I was just trying to point out that I like some aspects of certain programs better than others. But thats just me.

As for the "power", it was just kind of a general remark about the capabilities of high end software. I know I could have easily plugged Cubase or Ableton in there, Logic is just my first choice.

Quote by jackbauer

playing by yourself is like masturbating, sure it feels great, but it's nothing compared to the real deal.

^ it needs to be stated that this is linux software, and frankly its no substitute for a PC or Mac running Reaper/Cubase/Logic.

i spent months working on the whole linux studio thing and its just not there yet, maybe in a year or 2 when hardware support improves and the apps actually get good, i'm gonna be keeping a keen eye on it. (btw i'm still using Linux on my non-studio machine, and i'm typing this from linux right now)

I have Pro Tools LE as well as Logic Studio. I love them both and use each for different things. Logic for tacking and MIDI editing and Pro Tools for editing and mixing. Although with PT8 on the way, im hoping to move strictly to Pro Tools. I liked Nuendo the few times I've used it, but didn't really care for Cubase (weird...I know)

Im a huge fan of both purchased and open source audio software, and i think its a bit naive to discourage use of something just because people have to pay for it. Whilst it might be good to use an alternate sequencer for various reasons, Pro Tools and digi hardware is worth what you pay for it.

Quote by USAPeavey

For the signal flow I was referring just to the layout and ease of the signal routing. I'm currently in love with Reason because its very visual, and that works for me. The sequencer window in reason is not great though.

Are you using 4.0? crazy sequencer improvements. i use dual monitors and put the rack left and sequencer right, sexy as **** .

Im a huge fan of both purchased and open source audio software, and i think its a bit naive to discourage use of something just because people have to pay for it. Whilst it might be good to use an alternate sequencer for various reasons, Pro Tools and digi hardware is worth what you pay for it.

you raise a point, however i dont think ProTools LE is in any way worth paying for, its just so crippled. a proper ProTools HD rig however, is worth it if you are working in the big-league. i use both versions in college and although i'm not a fan of ProTools or Digidesign's buisness model, theres something sexy about a HD rig with a big D-Command control desk and all the racks of out-board processers.

Quote by richwatkinson

Are you using 4.0? crazy sequencer improvements. i use dual monitors and put the rack left and sequencer right, sexy as **** .

aw, win!its the only thing i dont like about Reason, its so awkward on a single screen.im using version 4 too, and i agree the sequencer has gotten a lot better.

you raise a point, however i dont think ProTools LE is in any way worth paying for, its just so crippled. a proper ProTools HD rig however, is worth it if you are working in the big-league.

Definitely. Thats partly the reason people use it too, for compatability purposes with other people and other workspaces and studios.

Quote by TheDriller

i use both versions in college and although i'm not a fan of ProTools or Digidesign's buisness model, theres something sexy about a HD rig with a big D-Command control desk and all the racks of out-board processers.

We have a HD setup with a D-Command too !Where do you go to college? I think within the next year the D-command at ours is getting taken out and replaced with an SSL, or so we're told

We have a HD setup with a D-Command too !Where do you go to college? I think within the next year the D-command at ours is getting taken out and replaced with an SSL, or so we're told

Aw sweet!I'm in Limerick Institute Of Technology, Ireland. we have 2 HD rooms, each with a D-Command, one is a 5.1 surround set-up. an SSL would be friggin awesome alright.

in my book, its either HD or nothing. ProTools LE is an absolute joke.having said that, i'd rather not use ProTools anyway, i'm not fond of the program at all, regardless of what the "industry standard" is.

Aw sweet!I'm in Limerick Institute Of Technology, Ireland. we have 2 HD rooms, each with a D-Command, one is a 5.1 surround set-up. an SSL would be friggin awesome alright.

in my book, its either HD or nothing. ProTools LE is an absolute joke.having said that, i'd rather not use ProTools anyway, i'm not fond of the program at all, regardless of what the "industry standard" is.

Aren't audio schools great? lol

I'm attending SAE Institute- Atlanta, and even though its small, its brand spankin new.

You know you've got it good when the instructors call a $100,000 SSL board "decent".

We just got a Neve as well, and the waiting list for booking it is freaking ridiculous.

Quote by jackbauer

playing by yourself is like masturbating, sure it feels great, but it's nothing compared to the real deal.

the course i'm doin isn't very good though, its "Video And Sound Technology", with a LOT of emphasis on the Video part. we kinda got triked into it, the open-day was very deceptive. i'll probably end up doing another "proper" music tech course in a few years.

Neve, sweet, though to be honest i dont think i'd ever go down that road personally, even if i had the money. "In The Box" all the way